The man was lead climbing with one other climber when he fell around 3 p.m., according to the ranger. He had set two climbing anchors along the climbing route when he lost his footing, he said. The top-most anchor broke free with the force of the fall and there was too much rope out for the lower anchor to catch him, Rechholtz said.

I was rapping above Old Town last year and saw someone hit the deck. No gear. Elvis Legs. Panic. He flipped upside down, and I was sure I had just witnessed him break his neck. Luckily, my view was messed up from being above and he somehow walked away. Well, limped away, really.

I would be curious where this accident happened. I hope the person has a full recovery. I hate reading about stuff like this.

It's called the South Wall because it's south facing. It is also commonly called The Precipice, but The Precipice is actually the hiking trail that weaves up and over the South Wall of Mount Champlain.